Half (50%) of respondents stating their intentions to leave referenced Brexit, and wider economic uncertainty. A quarter (24%) also mentioned the state of dentistry, including the way it is regulated or the state of the NHS, including NHS contracts as reasons for intending to leave.

While registrant numbers have remained broadly stable post Brexit, the BDA has expressed deep concerns that government has thus far been unwilling to engage on growing recruitment and retention problems. Last year BDA surveys indicated over two thirds (68%) of NHS practices in England who attempted torecruit in the last year struggled to fill vacancies. Half (50%) of the NHS practices who attempted recruitment had reported issues in the previous year.

Recent official data has shown morale among dentists has hit an all-time low, with lower levels of morale also linked to higher NHS commitments. Owing to recruitment issues and a recent spate of practice closures new patients across England are now facing over 50 mile journeys to secure NHS access.

BDA Chair Mick Armstrong said:

"Government has failed to even acknowledge the scale of the crisis that's been facing dentistry for several years. Broken NHS contracts, rock bottom morale and now Brexit are all taking their toll.

"The writing is now on the wall for too many European and UK qualified dentists. Government needs to wake up, and smell the coffee. NHS dentistry can't be run without dentists."